Application Materials

Your application should generally include a cover letter, resume, transcript, writing sample and at least two letters of recommendation. Everything must be impeccably proofread . With so many high quality applicants, typos and other small mistakes will automatically result in your application going into the trash. Most judges will simply toss away applications if they have any errors, including: typos, mistakes in the judge's title (i.e. "justice" instead of "judge"), abbreviations and incorrectly naming the court. Judges seek law clerks with strong research and writing skills. Everything in your application packet (including your cover letter and resume) is considered a writing sample. By starting early, you will not need to rush when putting your application together and will have more time for proofreading. Your application must make you stand out. Many judges receive hundreds of applications from bright and capable law students. One way to stand out is to highlight interesting prior work experience, especially if you worked in a supervisory capacity. Detail your academic awards and honors or publications. Often, including your interests on your resume can help break the ice in an interview. Unconventional talents, interests, or experience can make you stand out, even if they have nothing to do directly with the practice of law. For example, the fact that you worked your way through school as a stand-up comic or coached a little league team may help separate you from the crowd. In addition, judges will be looking for evidence of solid research and writing skills as well as people skills. Emphasize these areas in your application materials.

Career Services Office Assistance:
Have Mary Pat McInnis or Jon Baris review your application materials before sending them out. Their input will be very useful.

1. Résumé

Your résumé should be as strong as possible. If your qualifications improve after you send your résumé to the judge (e.g., you are appointed to the Law Review Editorial Board), be sure to send an updated resume highlighting your latest accomplishments. Sample resumès of successful clerkship applicants have been included in the appendix of this handbook as examples of both content and format.

2. Cover Letter

Customize your cover letter to the particular judge to whom you are applying. Judges are very interested in knowing whether you sincerely want to work for them or if they are just one employer on a long list. If you have properly researched the judge before applying, you can specifically reference their work in your cover letter. You may also consider addressing your interest in that specific court and/or the specific issue(s) the court/judge addresses. This sends the judge the message that you are interested in working specifically for them. Remember, your cover letter is a writing sample in itself. It must be polished, concise, customized and engaging.

3. Letters of Recommendation

Because judges may receive dozens or hundreds of applications, they use letters of recommendation to distinguish among the many qualified candidates. Most trial court judges require two letters of recommendation and most appellate judges prefer three. Confirm the required number of recommendations with the judge to whom you are submitting your application. At least one of these letters should be from a law school professor. When deciding who on the faculty you should ask to write your letter of recommendation, remember that the best letters of recommendation come from professors who can speak from personal knowledge of you and your work. You start during your first year to develop relationships with your professors. This will ensure that there are one or two faculty members who know you well enough to write personalized letters of recommendation. If there is a particular professor you would like to have write your letter of recommendation, become actively involved with the professor's research or try to serve as his or her faculty fellow, enroll in a directed research with him or her, or do a volunteer project. The professor will become acquainted with you and your work and will be in a better position to write a glowing recommendation. Faculty members know that students will be asking for recommendations. Do not hesitate to ask. However, give them plenty of time - at least one month - to prepare the letters.

If the professor writing your letter of recommendation offers to let you see the letter, read through it to confirm that it is an accurate portrayal of your character and abilities. If it is not, and you have multiple letters to choose from, use the letters that present you in the best light. Each faculty member is different regarding the number of letters they will send. Ask each professor how many letters it is appropriate to request of them. Most professors have no problem with 20-30 letters since they tend to use the same letter for each judge. However, to maintain good will, the more letters you request, the more you should try to lessen the workload for the professor (provide addressed envelopes so the professor doesn't have to worry about it).

You may also consider requesting a letter of recommendation from an attorney who has seen your work. Do not include any recommendations with an attorney from before you entered law school. Again, provide adequate notice to the attorney so that he or she may have sufficient time to complete the recommendation letter. Letters of recommendation can either be sent separately from your application packet or sealed and included with the other application materials. We recommend that you include sealed letters of recommendation in your application packet. This will decrease the possibility that your letters of recommendation become misfiled.

4. Writing Sample

Your writing sample must reflect your very best efforts. The best writing sample is one that a judge is likely to start AND finish. It is worth a call to the judge's chambers for guidance regarding what length writing sample is appropriate. Believe it or not, shorter is usually better. If you have several writing samples to choose from, select one that will appeal to the judge. For example, a federal judge would be more interested in a federal law topic than a state law topic. CAUTION : If you choose a topic that the judge has rendered a decision about, make sure you cite and apply the law correctly. Be sure the sample illustrates your analytical abilities: stay away from mere recitation of facts. If possible, the best sample is one that shows your ability to view a case from all perspectives. A research memo rather than a persuasive memo is best. Moot court briefs or persuasive motions are not as effective: they are too technical and usually present only one side of an issue.